Which Beds Do Gerbils Prefer?

Nesting Boxes

Nesting boxes are small boxes or domes with at least two walls that acts as a dark hiding place for the gerbil to sleep. Commercially made cardboard or wooden rodent nesting boxes are safer than plastic, as gerbils inevitably gnaw on them. Plastic may cause a gerbil to become ill and definitely will cause the nesting box to become useless. "Gerbils" also recommends temporary nesting boxes made from old shoe boxes, old cardboard milk cartons or breakfast cereal boxes with a small entrance hole cut in one side. Place nesting material under the nesting box. Replace nesting boxes and nesting material when they become wet, or they will begin to stink and may grow potentially harmful bacteria.

Also called cage lining, this is the material used in all other parts of the gerbil's cage or aquarium other than its sleeping nest. The American Gerbil Society recommends aspen wood shavings, corncob and recycled paper material popularly known as Carefresh. Avoid cedar shavings and pine shavings since these contain oils that may harm a gerbil's liver and respiratory system. Shredded plain white paper may be used as emergency bedding, but it gets damp quickly. Never use newspaper, as the ink will make the gerbils ill.

Gerbils enjoy tunneling through bedding. They need at least one-third of their enclosures filled with clean, dry bedding, according to the American Gerbil Society. If baby gerbils are expected, use at least 2 inches of bedding. Each gerbil only needs a generous handful of nesting material, although some gerbils may require more and some will require less. Gerbils normally shred, nibble and toss bedding and nesting material around their habitat.

Never use small animal fluffy bedding or nesting material made from cotton fibers for gerbils, even if the label states that it is good for gerbils. Gerbils can easily fracture a tail or leg in the mass of loose fibers. Gerbils also inevitably eat some of their bedding. Cotton does not move through the gerbil's digestive system well and may cause an intestinal blockage that could kill the gerbil.